Austin Innovative Rail Safety Outreach

1. Innovative Rail Safety Outreach for a New Rail Transit Service in Austin, Texas Alissa Schram Community Involvement Specialist Rail Safety Liaison Capital Metro

2. Capital MetroRail Capital MetroRail – Late 2008 startup – 32 miles on existing freight tracks from Leander to downtown – One of the area’s busiest traffic corridors – 9 stations planned – Sleek and quieter than typical commuter trains

3. Physical Safety • Testing • Fencing • Enforcement • Quad Gates • Additional Signage at each intersection

4. Operation Lifesaver • Commuter Rail Presentation • 30,000 Students • 41 Schools within one mile • Senior Centers • Libraries • Child Care Facilities

6. OPERATION LIFESAVER & INNOVATIVE OUTREACH Education Community Engineering Enforcement Innovative Outreach

7. Innovative Approach: Who’s Involved GROW (Grassroots Rail Outreach Working) Group A grassroots support team of existing organizations and campaigns: • Federal Railroad Administration • AAA • Girl Scouts of America • Alliance for Public Transportation • Housing Authority of the City of Austin • Amtrak • KLRU (PBS) • Austin American Statesman • Light Rail Now! .org • Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce • Media outlets • Austin Children’s Museum • Milkshake Media • Austin Independent School District • Mobiliti • Austin Fire Department • Operation Lifesaver • Austin Police Department • Partners in Education • Austin Public Library • Safe Kids Austin • Austin School of Film • Tate Austin Hahn • Babies’ R’ Us • Texas Bicycle Coalition • Border Media Partners • Travis County Attorney’s Office • Boy Scouts of America • Travis County EMS • Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area • Travis County Sheriff’s Office • Dell Children’s Hospital • TxDOT • City of Austin Child Safety Program • Veolia • City of Leander Community Action Network • Univision • ECHO (End Chronic Homelessness Organizing Committee) • Youth InterACTIVE

8. Endorsements • Will Wynn, Mayor of Austin • Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo • Austin EMS Director Ernie Rodriguez • Former Austin Fire Chief JJ Adame • Sally Tingle, Texas Operation Lifesaver, Director

9. Completed Concepts • Girl Scouts Rail Safety Patch Program • Boy Scouts Rail Safety Patch Program • PSA Competition hosted by Austin School of Film • Flyers in English/Spanish, English/Vietnamese, and English/Mandarin • Bok covers for all Elementary and Middle/High school students within one mile of the tracks • Rail Safety PSA featuring Police and Fire Chiefs (English and Spanish) • Blockwalking to homes within a ¼ mile of the tracks • Posting yard signs at every rail-grade intersection • Rail Safety website: www.stayoffthetracks.com • Bus Radio Rail Safety PSAs on every Yellow Bus (AISD bus) in Austin • Visual representation at the Travis County Sherriff’s Shattered Dreams event • Endorsements from the Mayor, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and EMS Director • Facebook Site • MySpace Site • Magnets

10. Concepts in Development • Webinars • Bus Wrap • Additional PSAs • Spanish Audience PSA • Billboards • Homeless community outreach • Driver education via AAA • Cyclist education via newsletters, Bicycle rodeos, listservs • Rail Safety component of Children’s museum transit exhibit • Employee message for major employers • Girl Scouts Event at train station • Boy Scouts Test Passengers

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25. www.stayoffthetracks.com

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37. Thanks! Alissa Schram Alissa.schram@capmetro.org 512-369-7759